Comprehensive Evaluation for Mortars and Concretes Incorporating Wastes

Abstract

Sustainability is concerned with the most efficient use of resources where the residues play an essential role. Trends in concrete technology include natural or artificial additions and additives in order to reduce the consumption of cement. The characterization of the wastes is of great importance with respect to the amount that must be incorporated into the matrices of construction materials both for its economic and engineering impacts (strength and durability). The authors study the impact in strength, durability, and sustainability of the use of finely ground waste of ferroalloys in concrete. The behavior of durability of sustainable concrete also is evaluated. The proportioning between traditional materials and these additions involves preliminary tests on pastes and mortars. Also, they study the impact of the use of different plastic wastes (polyethylene) in different percentages. They evaluated consistency, compressive strength, suction capability, and leaching.